Big Stone Lake is 30 miles long and is located on
the South Dakota-Minnesota border. The lake is the source of the Minnesota River
and attracts anglers who catch walleye, northerns and bluegills. The northern
section of the park, called the Bonanza Area, provides a picnic area, boat
launch and a primitive group camp for guests. The area also includes the Big
Stone Lake Environmental Education Center which provides a place to discover the
past and ways to preserve it. The southern section of the park, called the
Meadowbrook Area, contains a campground, swimming beach and hiking trails.
Quick stats:
986 acres
29,079 annual visits
3,188 overnight visits
Naturalist:
The best way to learn more about Big Stone Lake State Park is to stop at the
park office for a map and information about the park. Although the park does not
have a naturalist on staff, activities are offered occasionally.
Wildlife
Deer, raccoons, thirteen-lined ground squirrels, meadowlarks, sedge wrens,
robins, thrashers and mourning doves are sighted in the park.
History
In 1923, State Auditor Ray Chase critiqued the state park system and thought
there was a geographic imbalance in the system. In his proposal for additional
parks, Chase urged that more state parks be established in southern Minnesota.
The Ortonville area was targeted as a place with a need for a state park. It
wasn't until 1961 that Big Stone Lake State Park was established at the urging
of Ortonville business people who were concerned about lakeshore development.
Working with U.W. (Judge) Hella, director of Parks and Recreation Division,
legislation was drafted to establish Big Stone Lake as a state park.
Geology
Long ago, this area was the south end of glacial Lake Agassiz. Torrents of
water cut the valley when glacial river Warren drained Lake Aggassiz. The area
around Big Stone Lake State Park consists of granite and gneiss quarries. The
top three inches of stone is exposed and contains the fossil remains of sharks'
teeth.
Landscape
Big Stone Lake State Park is part of the Minnesota River Country Landscape
Region, a large area which extends almost 200 miles from Ortonville to Mankato.
At one time, the landscape consisted of tall and mid-grass prairie, interspersed
with marshes, lakes and streams. Today, extensive farming has replaced the
prairie. Cottonwoods, ash, and silver maples can be found on the lake's
shoreline. The Bonanza Area includes 30 acres of rare glacial till hill prairie,
which is designated as a Scientific and Natural Area (SNA).
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